Omi Shakya
Jeweller and Jewellery Designer, Durbar Jewels Fitness Enthusiast
‘Heading Work, Wealth & Wellness: The Business of a Balanced Life and Positive Mindset.’ When we wake up every morning and pursue our daily schedules, it’s easy to forget the importance of investing time in ourselves. Being engaged in a jewellery business, I’d like to share how embracing self-care has transformed not only my well-being and helped build a positive mindset but also my approach to work-life balance and redefining success on my terms. Self-care for me is not just a one-time act; it’s a commitment to prioritising yourself regularly. We often prioritise work, relationships, and responsibilities in our fast-paced world, leaving little to no time for ourselves. The beauty of self-care is that it looks different for everyone. It’s about finding what works for you and showing up for yourself consistently. So start by asking yourself, “How can I improve myself today?” While changing your lifestyle is always challenging, starting small with one habit built over time is more sustainable than trying to implement 10 different habits that won’t last. Over time, I’ve built certain habits that have turned my health journey into a fulfilling wellness lifestyle. I encourage everyone to try them at least once.
“Early to bed and early to rise makes one healthy, wealthy, and wise.” My health journey starts with an early start that sets the tone for the day—followed by a balanced alternative workout routine that includes handstands, cardio, kickboxing, callisthenics, weight training, tennis and yoga. This not only wakes my body but also gives me a feeling of accomplishment early on. While at work, I constantly strive to learn new skills and focus on personal growth. I aim to seize the most opportunity to expand my knowledge and build confidence in my free time. Setting up my “go-getter” attitude has pushed me to reach my best on and off work while actively avoiding my comfort zone and becoming the best version of myself. One major hurdle I always tend to overcome in my day-to-day life is practising my self-discipline, setting boundaries, and learning to say no to things that drain my energy and time. While prepping my day with healthy habits is great, nourishing the body is equally important. I prioritise whole foods, limit alcohol, and avoid products that don’t benefit my body. I focus on getting proper rest and feeling recharged over the weekend to ensure I start the following week stronger. Going out with friends, spending time with family, or having a slow day where I can reflect gives me a sense of relaxation and joy after a long work week. Many people today mistake self-care for spa days, shopping sprees, or short-term treatments. True self-care is about sustainable well-being, not just temporary pleasure. It can be as simple as running, hiking, walking, eating well, reading, meditating, or getting enough sleep. The ultimate goal of a healthy lifestyle is not just to feel good for a moment. It’s to build a lifestyle that feels good every day. By investing in these long-term lifestyle choices, not only will you feel better now, but you will also reap the benefits of a healthy and balanced lifestyle in the long run.
Pranesh Tamang
Co-founder, ORESSA
In this fast-paced world, people are constantly hustling, trying to reach every milestone as quickly as possible and jumping right away to catch the next big break. Being motivated is great, but what many need to learn is the art of “PLANNED MOTIVATION.” I used to be one of them. I crammed as much as possible into my daily routine without taking a break. Maybe it was my workaholic side at play, but the constant push gave me a rush, making me feel fully satisfied at the end of each day. I was in a zone, hitting milestones one after another at an incredible pace. But things took a dark turn when my unplanned rush without prioritising my well-being finally caught up with me. In an instant, months of hard work came to a halt. Suddenly, I found myself in one of the darkest phases of my life, with both my physical and mental health at their lowest. My family and friends were there to support me. They taught me something that I hope will help anyone reading this: Self-care means something different to everyone. For me, it breaks down into three key areas: mental care, spiritual care, and physical care.
Mental Care: Everything starts with the mind. Everything flows from the mind. I make it a priority to clear and strengthen my mind every day. There are many ways to do this, but since my biggest struggle was restlessness, I needed to learn how to slow down and focus on one thing at a time. That’s where meditation came in. A friend recommended an app called Headspace, which offers free, beginner-friendly guided meditations – just 10 minutes long. That simple practice changed my mornings completely. I’m not an expert in meditation, but dedicating just 10 minutes each day has made a huge difference. I’ve become calmer, more focused, and, in many ways, happier. When it comes to mindset, I could talk for ages, but for now, I highly recommend starting with a 10-minute guided meditation. It will 10x your self-care routine!
Spiritual Care: Some might not consider this a spiritual practice, but for me, daily affirmations are essential. They shape my mindset and set the tone for my day. By reinforcing positive affirmations, I gain clarity on what needs to be done – eliminating unnecessary stress and ultimately leading to a healthier, more balanced mind.
Physical Care: I’m not a super active person. I like to keep my physical care routine short and efficient, just enough to start my day feeling refreshed. For now, I focus on two non-negotiables: 8 hours of quality sleep and 30 minutes of cardio. There are many other aspects of physical care, but for me, these two make the biggest difference. Proper rest and movement go hand in hand. By combining these three areas of self-care, the impact on both my personal life and business has been exponential.
The shift in my mind-body connection is something that can’t be fully explained – it can only be felt. So, if you’re feeling stuck like I was, give this a try. This will eventually help your brain and body grow in a healthy and balanced way, helping you gain that momentum the PLANNED MOTIVATION brings in your life. The first week might be challenging, but the transformation in your mindset and performance will be magical!
Sanskriti Bhatta
Model
Self-care is a personal thing; it’s not just taking care of myself physically, but I believe it’s maintaining a balance in all aspects of life (physical, mental, and emotional well-being). For me, a self-care ritual starts with morning mindfulness. I like to take a few moments when I wake up to simply think about my grandparents, parents and all the gods (who have always been there) and prepare myself a healthy breakfast & lunch to kick-start my long day before I get home. (7am to 4pm) It’s not always about being productive; it’s more about grounding myself in the present and living the little moments in life. I love working out not just for the physique but to feel good. I love taking short walks home, as it helps clear my mind and makes me feel energised and ready to tackle whatever comes my way.
Another part of my ritual is indulging in something creative. Whether it’s creating content or just daydreaming, creating gives me a sense of accomplishment and helps me process emotions. I also prioritise taking breaks (rest days) throughout the day, especially when I feel overwhelmed. I also take myself on the date, as I love slow dates and I love my own company. Disconnecting from work or screens allows me to reset and recharge. In the evening, I cook meals and share my feelings & talks with my sister and close ones & value winding down with a good book or a relaxing song (any favourite song works). It’s a way to separate the day’s responsibilities from restful sleep, which is crucial for overall well-being. I pamper myself occasionally to just relax from my busy schedules. I always try to be flexible for my weekdays to myself since I don’t want to be heavy on myself. Mostly, I am busy with my nursing work, which gives me the time to learn, explore, create, serve and give back to the community and humans, which has also been a good journey. Even finding in the works have been my self-care rituals. I value how I feel and work in the way that is needed.
Manisha Giri
Co-founder, Korean Beauty Point
‘Self-Care: A Necessity, Not a Luxury.’ Skincare is more than just beauty—it’s self-care. It’s about nurturing our spirit and finding balance. When we take care of ourselves, we can better care for others. As a CEO, I’m constantly caught up in the hustle of running a business. Over time, I’ve realized that self-care is just as important as managing my company. My daily routine is simple yet transformative, benefiting both my personal and professional life.
I start my mornings with a glass of warm water and pink salt, followed by light exercise. A nutritious breakfast with supplements, especially ginseng, keeps me energized. Prioritizing sleep and hydration is key—I believe true self-care means treating our bodies with respect. Skincare is essential for everyone, regardless of gender. Just as we nourish our bodies, we must care for our skin. My routine includes double cleansing, hydrating toner, serum, essence, retinol, eye cream, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Reapplying sunscreen every 3-4 hours is my secret to healthy skin. Evenings are for unwinding—a warm bath with essential oils helps me relax. Journaling about my experiences as a businesswoman allows me to reflect, stay motivated, and celebrate my achievements. Self-care isn’t selfish; it’s necessary. When we prioritize our well-being, we empower ourselves to show up fully in our personal and professional lives. Find a routine that works for you, and remember—taking care of yourself is the first step to thriving.
Pranay Karki
Co-founder, Jina Alchemy Founder JUAS
Among many self-care rituals that I have tried for better health and personal growth, two have been consistent for more than five years now. I know maintaining a balanced lifestyle is key to personal well-being, but following a healthy routine that promotes both physical and mental growth is quite challenging sometimes. One of the most effective habits I’ve embraced is intermittent fasting since 2017. I normally have my first meal at 3pm or at least I stay fasted for 17 hours straight per day. This form of lifestyle, I believe, has helped me immensely to stay in better shape as well as to optimize overall health. Fasting I know has also helped me to stay focused during the day and it allows my body time to reset and repair before I enjoy a nourishing first meal. Another healthy ritual I have been consistent for at least the last 5 years is eating a nutrient packed first meal. My breakfast usually is a proper balanced food with at least 60% protein. Normally its 4 whole eggs scrambled in ghee with vegetable and bacon.
Also this may or may not qualify as ritual to self-care but I believe in constantly learning new things. So I always make a conscious effort, whenever I am free, to learn something new regularly especially about nature, metaphysics, and occult. I am always interested in learning and trying new things especially involving innovation.
Physical exercise has always been part of my life so I consider it a default routine rather than a new ritual. I am into weightlifting and compound workout, and I hit the gym at least 3 times a week. Maintaining a healthy muscle is a key to better aging and staying young. Another ritual that I am into recently is staying in the sun or more like staring right into the sun before 8am. Sun not only helps with vitamin D but it helps you to destress and to balance hormones as well. Sun is an enigma and it helps one in some many levels if it is worshipped regularly. My recent rituals, which might be the most important one, is to sleep before 11 pm. This consistent sleep schedule has allowed my body to recharge and recover, and I have been feeling the difference as it is quite imminent during the day. I believe all these habits have kept me physically fit, mentally alert, and emotionally balanced.
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